The father of a defendant accused of kidnapping a Horizon City man was kicked out of U.S. District Court on Wednesday for what some interpreted as threatening a witness on the stand.

Rafael Vega, 27, and Cesar Obregon-Reyes, 22, are accused of kidnapping Sergio Saucedo from his home on Sept. 3, 2009. Saucedo's body, with his hands chopped off, was later found in Juárez.

Prosecutors alleged that Saucedo, who was described as a drug dealer, was killed as payback for a seized marijuana load.

Vega's father was removed from the courtroom on Wednesday, the third day of the jury trial.

"Vega's father made what I consider to be a threat to one of the witnesses and was expelled," Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones was quoted by The Associated Press.

Witnesses said Vega's father raised his hands up in an "are you kidding me?" type of gesture while a person testified. Outbursts are not allowed in court.

FBI officials confirmed an arrest was made Wednesday in connection with the case but declined to reveal details.

Witnesses testified for the prosecution that Vega was overheard talking about payment for the kidnapping during a New Year's Eve party on Dec. 31, 2009.

After the prosecution rested its case Wednesday, the defense began presenting witnesses.

Lawyer Robert Perez is arguing Vega, who was convicted at the age of 19 in a marijuana case, couldn't have committed the kidnapping because he was at a halfway house at the time.

A U.S.

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probation officer testified the halfway house on occasion failed to tell her that Vega arrived late, had a car and other rule violations.

Jennifer Vega testified that her brother, Rafael Vega, was at a New Year's Eve party at her home Dec. 31, 2009.

But Rafael Vega's girlfriend allegedly told investigators the couple left his sister's party to go to another party for a short time. It was at the second party where Rafael Vega was allegedly overheard talking about the kidnapping.

During cross-examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brandy Gardes peppered Jennifer Vega with questions about recorded telephone calls last year from her brother in jail. Rafael Vega in the calls told his family to contact Saucedo's widow and mother, said Gardes.